CARY — SAS is updating its climate strategy with a lofty goal: to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Cary-based software analytics firm now joins a growing cohort of companies — including Duke Energy and Dominion — which have committed to that aim in a bid to avoid the worst impacts from climate change.

“For decades, SAS has combined corporate social responsibility and innovation with our software to address economic, social and environmental issues,” said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight, in a statement.

“While we all are trying to adapt to our new normal during COVID-19, SAS’ values still hold true – we treat people like they matter and work together with each other and our customers to make a better, safer world and create a more sustainable future.”

SAS said it already generates 3.8 million kWh of clean, renewably sourced energy from rooftop and ground-mounted solar systems which will help the company to achieve its net-zero carbon emission goal by 2050.

Among its other recent actions towards its new goal:

  • Being featured in the Business Roundtable CEO Embracing Sustainability Challenge.
  • Achieving 2020 goal of adding 50% more charging stations at SAS headquarters.
  • Earning LEED certifications for its Toronto location (Platinum) and for its largest and newest office building at world headquarters (Gold).
  • Reducing absolute emissions another 3.9% – 23.5% lower than the 2011 baseline year.
  • Exceeding 2025 goal of improving carbon use intensity for US office buildings by 50%.
  • Decreasing energy use intensity for office buildings another 6.1% to 14.5 kWh per square foot.
  • Installing numerous sensors on campus beehives where a dedicated IoT team uses the data to improve understanding of bee behaviors.
  • Diverting 49% of operational and construction waste from landfills globally.
    Contributing to the greater good.

Goodnight co-founded SAS while studying at NC State’s agricultural department back in 1976. Today, it has nearly 14,000 employees. More than 5,000 of those are located in Cary.

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